Pieces
of the PastArtifacts,
Documents, and Primary Sources
from Letchworth Park History

Landmarks
on the Genesee Valley Canal
in Letchworth Park

Part
I

In the 19th
century, the Genesee Valley Canal passed through the lands which
would become Letchworth Park. Although the Canal was abandoned
in 1878, those who hike along the old canal bed can still find
traces of that engineering wonder, especially along Trail #7.

Until
their death, J. Hayward and Emily Madden of South Livonia were
considered to be the leading experts on the Genesee Valley Canal.
Among their extensive research files and resources were notebooks
documenting each section of the old Canal.

In
June of 1978 I visited with the Maddens and took the notes found
below, which identify important landmarks of the Canal in the
sections in or near Letchworth Park.

Please
note that the comments found in parenthesis are the Madden's notes
or comments describing the features as they existed in the 1960's
and 70's. There may have been some changes since that time.

Modern
photographs of some of the features listed below are found in
Part
II

SECTION
53 (starts in Oakland, east of Oakland Road and extends to a point
east of the Deep Cut)

Lock
54 (first lock west of Oakland Road - shows wooden quoin post)

Lock
55 (shows grooves for timber posts)

Pound
Reach (storage of water to supply lock)

Lock
56 (most photographed of all, very good condition)

Lock
57 (composite lock)

Lock
58

Lock
59

SECTION
54 (starts at Deep Cut and extends to point on William Road)

Lock
60 (marks eastern end of Deep Cut - last lock on Canal for nine
miles)

SECTION
55 (starts at point in William Road and runs to point near River
Road)

Prism
(canal bed still visible with water and towpath)

SECTION
56 (starts near River Road and runs to a point near the Parade
Grounds)

Prism
(still visible)

SECTION
57 (starts near the Parade Grounds and extends to the Slide Area
by Middle Falls)